Sansculotte
Sansculotte is Revolutionary France economic unit in Age of Empires III, obtained through Town Center. Its listed ability is Gathers resources; Builds buildings; Claims treasures.
Recorded values
- Cost
- 100 Food
- Available
- Town Center
- Training
- 19.6 sec · 1 population · 8 XP per train
- Durability & mobility
- 135 hit points · 40% ranged resistance · 4.75 speed · 14 line of sight
- Hand attack
- 14 damage · 1.5 attack interval · bonuses: 2.0x vs. Pet; 2.0x vs. Heavy infantry; 2.0x vs. Artillery
- Ranged attack
- 20 damage · 2-12 range · 3.0 attack interval · bonuses: 2.0x vs. Huntable; 2.0x vs. Pet; 2.0x vs. Heavy infantry; 2.0x vs. Artillery; 0.25x vs. Villager
- Siege attack
- 32 damage · 6 range · 3.0 attack interval · bonuses: 3.0x vs. Resource enclosure; 1.5x Defensive building
- Ability
- Gathers resources; Builds buildings; Claims treasures
Role, availability & values
Production is available through Town Center. It has 135 hit points and 40% ranged resistance. It moves at 4.75 speed and uses 1 population. Training costs 100 Food; it takes 19.6 seconds to train. Attack profile: Hand attack deals 14 damage. Ranged attack deals 20 damage. Siege attack deals 32 damage. Hand attack bonuses: 2.0× against Pet, 2.0× against Heavy infantry*, and 2.0× against Artillery. Ranged attack bonuses: 2.0× against Huntable, 2.0× against Pet, 2.0× against Heavy infantry*, 2.0× against Artillery, and 0.25× against Villager. Siege attack bonuses: 3.0× against Resource enclosure and 1.5× Defensive building. Special ability or role: Gathers resources; Builds buildings; Claims treasures.
Matchup & timing
Hand attack is especially effective against Pet (2×), Heavy infantry (2×), Artillery (2×). Ranged attack is especially effective against Huntable (2×), Pet (2×), Heavy infantry (2×), Artillery (2×). Siege attack is especially effective against Resource enclosure (3×). Its reduced multipliers against Villager (0.25×) make it less suitable for those targets. Use ranged fire to focus Huntable, Pet, Heavy infantry, and Artillery before they can close; hold the melee attack for Pet, Heavy infantry, and Artillery when they enter contact; reserve the siege attack for Resource enclosure. Keep a frontline between this unit and threats that can reach it safely.
French revolutionary worker-combatant
Sansculotte is an economic unit for Revolutionary France, trained at the Town Center for 100 Food. It uses one population and takes 19.6 seconds to train. The unit has 135 hit points, 40% ranged resistance, speed 4.75 and line of sight 14. Unlike a standard Villager, it carries several combat and utility options: it gathers resources, builds structures and claims Treasures. Its hand attack deals 14 damage, while the ranged attack deals 20 damage at ranges two to 12; the siege attack deals 32 damage. The listed bonuses give it extra effectiveness against Pets, Heavy infantry and Artillery, while the ranged attack also counters Huntable units and has reduced damage against Villagers. This mix lets the unit contribute to the economy and defend itself, but its one-population cost and 100-Food price still compete with other production. Use Sansculottes to keep resource gathering and construction active after the Revolution, and choose combat targets that match its bonus profile. Do not assume that a worker with ranged resistance can replace dedicated infantry or cavalry; its role is flexible support, and the force still needs units specialized for the opponent’s composition.
Ranged attack targets and economy
The ranged profile is useful against the listed Huntable, Pet, Heavy infantry and Artillery classes, but the 0.25 Villager multiplier discourages using it as a worker raider. Its resource gathering and building actions keep the unit tied to the economy even after the revolution. Assign it to a clear purpose—construction, gathering or a specific defensive target—so its one population is not left idle. The Town Center is its access point, so protect the settlement and keep Food available for production.
Town Center production choice
A Town Center can train Sansculottes while the revolutionary French player continues to manage Settler production or defense. Keep the unit’s purpose clear, since gathering or building means it is not present in the army, and its population still counts toward the force limit.
French revolutionary worker and combat profile
The Sansculotte is the economic unit of Revolutionary France, trained at the Town Center. It gathers resources, builds structures and claims Treasures, but its attack profile also allows it to protect itself and support the revolutionary force. The 20-damage ranged attack and 14-damage hand attack carry bonuses against specified targets such as Heavy infantry and Artillery; the 32-damage siege attack can pressure buildings and Resource enclosures. These bonuses do not turn the worker into a replacement for dedicated military units. Its 135 hit points and 40% ranged resistance help it survive some contact, yet losing Sansculottes still reduces the economy that must fund reinforcements.
Keeping the French economy functional after revolt
At 100 Food, one population and a 19.6-second train time, Sansculottes are relatively quick to replace, but training them competes directly with military spending. Establish safe gathering areas first and use their building ability to restore essential infrastructure without sending the whole worker group into contested territory. They can accompany an army to construct a forward building or claim a nearby Treasure, but separate those tasks when enemy cavalry or artillery can punish exposed workers. Use ranged attacks against suitable targets and reserve the siege profile for openings where the group can approach safely. A successful Revolution needs both immediate pressure and an economy capable of sustaining the new nation; balance troop production with enough workers to keep Food and other required resources flowing.